Customer Reviews

Year of the Elephant: A Moroccan Woman's Journey Toward Independence (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation)

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Leila Abouzeid's novel and accompanying short stories are all the more remarkable because, at the time this collection was published (1989), it was the first time a novel by a Moroccan woman had been translated from Arabic into English.

The contents of the book were also radical: that of a female activist facing divorce in mid-life and her struggle to survive when her rights were perilously few in a society that did not accommodate her situation. Rather, it punished her for the failed marriage. I read this book back to back with Malika Oufkir's harrowing account of her family's 20 year imprisonment in Morocco. Abouzeid's story touches on some similar issues: that of revolt, torn allegiances, political and personal persecution in a country fraut with power struggles. Oufkir was a member of the elite who went from palace to prison, from being somebody to nobody. On the face of it, Abouzeid's heroine Zahra led a more ordinary life although her other life as an activist was extraordinary. She had to muster even more courage after her divorce and the near impossible task of rebuilding her life. Like Oufkir, she went from being somebody to nobody with the loyalties of family and friends in tatters. Zahra is divorced, illiterate and without economic resources, but finds strength within her Muslim faith. This is an illuminating account of Morocco's struggle for independence through the eyes of a working class woman on her own path to personal independence.

A must read for Western feminists and Western women in general. It is a window to another world where women fought and still fight different battles, and some that are the same.

Year of the Elephant has special meaning for it tells about a woman named Zahra and the struggle for independence of her country, as well as herself. She struggled to retrieve important elements of her culture that were stolen. When the French invaded Morocco they stripped the country of their right to choose language, culture, and freedom to educate in the ways of their land. In addition, the French spent many years putting the Arabic culture down and spreading the idea that it was inferior to the French. Resisters to the French government were thrown in prison where they were tortured and hung.
Zahra had to face many personal struggles. Recently divorce she faced the problem of supporting herself, being shunned by neighbors because she was a divorced woman, and having low self-esteem because her husband abandoned her after 40 years of marriage. All that she has left is a small room left by her father, and she is totally alone without family. What I liked most about this book is the author's poetic way of describing things. After finding her self alone, Zahra visits the burial ground of her dead relatives and makes the statement, "Death seems alluring in it's tranquility." At another time when she is upset over her recent divorce, she reflects on how rotten the world is. She noticed some children playing and makes the statement, "The world is rotting about us, yet people still procreate. ....Children provide proof that God has not yet despaired of the human race." What I did not like about this book is the way the author would switch times; this made the reading hard to interpret. The book shows women's struggled against stereotyping and the fight is harder when you are alone. At the same time , Zahra proved to us that it is during hard times we, as women find strength in ourselves and our divinity. The book has a surprise ending and shows us that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Set against the background of the Moroccan War of Independence, "Year of the Elephant" tells of one woman's rebirth and her sustaining faith. The title is symbolic of a battle in Islamic history where foreign tribes were defeated in their attempts to ovethrow the Muslims.
The protagonist, Zahra, must find her way back to feeling that she is a worthy human being and not the worthless person she feels like after being discarded by her husband. We learn her story through past and present events that intertwine to give us a complete picture of her struggles with life, her faith and herself.
With the aid of the fiqah, her spiritual guide, Zahra is able to realize that her life has meaning and she has made a great contribution to the fight for freedom. She comes to realize that her faith has been a guiding force throughout her life, and that faith is what willcontinue to guide her as she embarks on a new phase of her life - as an independent woman capable of surviving on her own.
The novella takes us through the highs and lows of Zahra's life as a key player in the fight for freedom and her struggle to re-claim herself. I enjoyed this novella because of the strength of Zahara's character and the theme that women can and should take charge of their lives. This theme is a universal one that appears in novels written by women, and it transcends race, culture, and economic backgrounds. I was able to share in her triumph against obstacles she faced as she looked within and found her true self. I feel this will be appealing to all women who read this novella.
The short stories that follw the novella are a mixture of plots and themes that depict the lives of different individuals. After the uplifting feeling of "Year of the Elephant", the short stories were a let down. The overall theme appears to be one of poverty, despair, and discontent as the characters go about their lives. They are men, women, adn children who seem to find little in life to be happy about adn to some degree seem to find their happiness in their discontent.
I feel it would have been better to expand on the novella and to leave the short stories out, or they could have been published separately. However, the important factor in this translation is that the reader gets to experience the voice of a woman whose life and culture are completely different from that of Western society.

In the novella Year of the Elephant, author Leila Abouzeid combines two stories into one moving narrative. It is about an older woman who must make a new start in her life. And hers is a life that is tied to the rebirth of a nation. I think Abouzeid has skillfully combined these two elements to create a bittersweet tale of struggle, independence, and sobering realization.
The main character, Zahra, has returned to her childhood home in Meknes, Morocco. She is reeling from a painful divorce. After two decades of marriage, her husband has ignominiously severed their union with a brief note that read, "your papers will be sent to you along with whatever the law provides." These words are the culmination of years of growing disillusionment and estrangement between a husband and wife, between a dream and reality. And these words echo through Zahra's mind as she tries to rebuild her life.
Part of what made the book interesting to me is the background of the story. At the end of World War II, colonies like Morocco struggled for independence. After a violent decade of revolt, the French finally released their grip on the Moroccans and restored its monarchy. It was during this period that the author sets the stage.
I like the fact that Zahra was not an armed combatant in the revolution. She doesn't have a stomach for killing, but is nevertheless dedicated to helping "the cause". Abouzeid, I feel, deliberately avoids being overly gory or melodramatic. I think she wants to focus on Zahra's voice as a Moroccan woman. Zahra contributes by smuggling arms and distributing pamphlets. She is one of those faceless individuals who perform the mundane yet dangerous tasks behind the scenes of a popular uprising. But to Zahra, it means everything. It is an opportunity to help liberate her people. And it is an opportunity to raise the status of women. And it's during this struggle that Zahra meets her husband, a charismatic leader of the resistance.
After the French are driven out of Morocco, Zahra and her husband settle into a comfortable existence. But Zahra isn't content. She realizes that Morocco is still affected by French influence and ideals. Also, opportunities for women didn't really materialize. Her husband embraces these ideals while she longs for a return to a traditional lifestyle. She sees that the new leaders of Morocco have been corrupted by their former rulers. It is a bitter pill to swallow for her and many of her countrymen.
Back in Meknes, the divorced Zahra struggles to survive. She finds solace in the Sheikh, an ageless figure from her past. He is a wise and caring person who teaches her to trust in God. It is an uplifting message that carries her through some dark periods. However, she must confront the reality that as an older woman her options are limited. She faces an uphill battle. It is a battle women throughout the world face.

Year of the Elephant proved to be a pretty enlightening novel, it is told from the point of view of Zahra, the protagonist who finds herself in a constant struggle for independence. Divorced from her husband and without any family support, she is left alone to fend for herself. What captured me most about this novel was Zahra's personal growth as she traces her steps towards independence. Moreover, this novel does an excellent job at clearly showing Zahra's transformation from beginning to the end. I also enjoyed this novel because it is easy to see and understand Zahra's pain; she allows us to enter her world and feel her many frustrations. Moreover, we can see that although this story revolves around Zahra's personal journey towards independence, the themes contained within the novel cover much more. Leila Abouzeid cleverly incorporates many other important themes such as the struggle against colonialism, the struggle against poverty and divorce, and most importantly she stresses the importance of faith.
As Zahra reflects on her past, I realized how committed she was to overcome colonialism, Zahra fought against colonialism because she believed they would eventually reestablish traditional principals. However, soon after independence she realized that this was not the case, instead of reestablishing their traditional principles, they began to duplicate the form of government left behind by the French. Unfortunately for Zahra, this post colonial period brought her many problems, including her divorce. As Zahra's husband finds himself advancing through the ranks of government, he begins to see himself as being better than Zahra, more "high class" and therefore is no longer interested in a traditional wife. "I don't eat with a fork. I don't speak French. I don't sit with men. I don't go out to fancy dinners...their positions in society now call for modern women." In other words, he divorces Zahra because she no longer fits into his newly found ideals.
Through reading this novel I learned the cultural significance of Zahra's divorce. "For our people, divorce is a catastrophe, an absolute disaster." As I continued reading, I found myself completely absorbed by her story. The way she described her situation, the state of poverty, and loneliness she found herself in, made me feel a sense of pity for her. "In my whole life I have never found myself in such a helpless situation." I thought to myself "how could a woman her age overcome this she rough situation? How will she survive?"
What I find most admirable about Zahra is her ongoing display of faith. After her divorce she finds herself alone, with no family or friends to turn to. She is surrounded by poverty, she has nothing but the small room she inherited, and "whatever the law provides" from her husband, (which she makes clear is not much at all.) However despite everything she is going through she doesn't turn away from God, on the contrary, she uses her faith to give her the peace of mind she needs in order to persevere and gain her personal independence. Throughout the novel Zahra's only support came from the Sheikh, "As soon as I see him, I feel reassured." while reading about the sheikh, I too felt reassured. What I liked most about him is that he not only answers her questions, or solves her problems, he does more than that, he guided her in the right direction, and allowed her to make her own decisions, and solve her own problems; he was her pillar of strength.

I found "Year of the Elephant" to be a very intelligent and spiritual novel. The story is told first-hand by Zahra, a woman who spent several years of her life fighting side by side with her countrymen and her husband for Morocco's freedom from French occupation. As Zahra looks back on these experiences and the results that her involvement with the revolution have on her life, the reader discovers a very strong, independent, and spiritual woman who refuses to sell-out or give up once hardships come her way. Zahra's emotional experiences and her search for a new sense of belonging and purpose are thought- provoking and inspirational.
Zahra's involvement with the revolution and the backlash she experiences from her closest and most trusted friends and family members leave her in a simultaneous state of disenchantment with her past, present and future. She relates to the reader her role in the creation of a new Morocco, but also shares with the reader the sadness and disappointment she feels when she realizes that her actions and sacrifices have left her drifting over a landscape of hypocrisy and deceit. Her story is the story of Morocco's women both during the fight for independence and in the years that followed. Zahra becomes engrossed in a revolution against colonization and the effects of post-colonialism in her country. After her goals and the goals of her countrymen are realized, Zahra begins to understand that while she finds victory in the revolution, she finds defeat in the aftermath. The overall message of her experience with the revolution is cross-cultural, causing readers to identify with the joys of victory, but also the bitterness and disillusionment of pain and loss.
Of the many relationships mentioned in the novel, I found Zahra's relationship with her spiritual leader and mentor the most poignant. The novel is an examination of Zahra's sense of a new, unfamiliar self. After her husband unexpectedly and unfairly divorces her for another woman, she no longer finds herself protected and secure. She is now thrust into the second half of her life without a clear purpose or meaning. The Sheikh fills the emptiness of Zahra's spirit, however, and forces her to look within herself to find strength and meaning in self-examination. His universal message, which renounces the doctrines of materialism and earthly pleasures while professing the value of religion and faith, raises the question of spirituality in the minds of Zahra and the reader alike.
I also enjoyed this novel because it is not merely an explanation of the healing powers of religion and spirituality, but is also a first-hand, historical account of the conflicts between the French and Moroccans in the twentieth century. Leila Abouzeid is the first Moroccan woman to translate her writings into English, and the result is a heroic tale of a struggling woman desperate to survive and flourish despite overwhelming uncertainty and conflict. Her main character is divorced by her husband, abandoned by her friends, and disillusioned with the nation she fought so hard to preserve and protect from Western influences. Abouzeid uses this opportunity to translate her story to introduce the struggles of her nation and her people, as well as herself, to the Western world. The novel brilliantly infuses a human element into this historical narrative that allows readers the rare chance to enter into Zahra's mind during times of significant struggle and conflict, but also to absorb a universal and cross-cultural message of strength and perseverance in times of severe difficulty. I enjoyed how I identified with this aspect of the novel and certain undeniable truths concerning the human condition shone through so vividly.
Overall, I found Leila Abouzeid's novel to be window to the world of the Moroccan people, particularly Moroccan women, and a testament to the courage and strength of the human spirit. Zahra's willingness to fight for freedom, and her resolve to continue to fight for her survival even after Moroccan independence is reached is an inspirational message that relates to readers from all backgrounds and experiences. "Year of the Elephant" is a tribute to the independence of both country and individual.

This is a delightful tale of female independence. The mainstream typically views Arab Women as oppressed, and this tale demonstrates that many of them had a significant role in many of the independent movements. It is a short read.

If you want some personal history and perspective of what it was like to be a Moroccan woman during the years of the author's live, this is an excellent introduction.

In a society where women's voices can not be heard, Leila made her voice clearly audiable for the whole world to hear her. The freedom to give her perspective and beliefs were evident, as she boldly used her autobiography, to speak on behalf of the Muslim Moroccan women and citizens. She corrected any misconceptions that are normally made about Islam and Muslim women throughout her intricate piece of literature. After reading this novel, I had a better understanding of Morocco's history as well as the Muslims who inhabited the country. As a Christian, it is no wonder that the Muslims do not have a good attitude towards many Christians, for look at the poor example the Nasaras (the Christian French colonists) displayed to the Moroccans, the injustice and cruelty they gave them, it disgusts me. Leila Abouzeid did a wonderful job in the providing the readers an opportunity to get into the mind and the emotions of a typical Moroccan that had to tolerate and endure through the hardships of unjust French colonialism. I completely agree with her perspective on the West and it's self-sufficient ways, for being full of self-interest is so against God's Word! The struggle for power is the main concern for the evil world, instead of the struggle for peace. We must work together to make this world a more righteous environment for our children to live in, wallah. Peace can begin with one person, so let us attempt to make harmony with our brothers and sisters, for the struggle for independence in our daily lives can be less painful if we make conscience effort, inshallah.